Human Service Forum

12th Annual Martin Luther King Jr Lecture
2025-03-03 16:00 - 18:00 (America/New_York)
SPRINGFIELD COLLEGE, DIVISION OF CAMPUS LIFE & INCLUSION PRESENT:
Honoring the history of inclusion and diversity at Springfield College
Monday, March 3, 2025 at 4 p.m.
Cleveland E. and Phyllis B. Dodge Room (C-F), Flynn Campus Union
June 14, 1964, was one of the greatest days in Springfield College history.

That was the day when Martin Luther King Jr. delivered the College’s commencement address. Taking place at the height of his fame and the height of the Civil Rights Movement, it also happened in a remarkable context. That included both pressure from the FBI on the College to cancel the speech, and King’s arrest and imprisonment three days before he was scheduled to appear.

2025 marks the 61st anniversary of these events. March 3 will mark the 12th annual MLK Lecture.

This year’s event is not really a lecture at all. It is a thought-provoking conversation rooted in King’s own political and prophetic thought and advocacy in both historical and contemporary contexts. The discussion will assist us in understanding how racial, ethnic, gender, and/or class issues have influenced the current political landscape in the United States.

Our President & CEO, Shannon M. Rudder, MBA, joins other esteemed panelists: State Sen. Adam Gomez and Mount Holyoke College President Danielle R. Holley. Moderating the talk will be Terry Powe ’96, Board of Trustees member and co-chair of the Academic and Student Affairs Committee. JOIN THE CONVERSATION

94.7 WMAS Radiothon for Baystate Children's Hospital
2025-03-04 06:00 - 18:00 (America/New_York)
Change kids’ health. Change the future. Join us for the 24th annual 94.7 WMAS Radiothon for Baystate Children’s Hospital, broadcasting live from the 94.7 WMAS studios at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass.
On Tuesday, March 4, and Wednesday, March 5, 2025, the Kellogg Krew will broadcast from 6 am to 6 pm, filling the airwaves with inspirational stories from Baystate Children’s Hospital patients, families, providers, and supporters.
All donations made during the Radiothon stay local, supporting care for children in our community. As the only full-service, accredited children’s hospital in our region, Baystate Children’s Hospital (BCH) is a critical resource in our community, with more than 3,270 inpatient admissions, 3,220 surgeries, and 1,950 procedures performed annually. BCH is also home to the region’s only pediatric emergency department, which sees nearly 32,000 visits each year, and also the region’s only Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and Pediatric Intensive/Intermediate Care Unit (PICU).

HR Virtual Roundtable
2025-03-04 09:00 - 10:30 UTC | Online via Zoom
HSF is pleased to host roundtable forums around topics important to non-profit HR and fiscal management. Roundtables are led by senior leaders from HSF member organizations.
HSF Roundtable Benefits include:

Facilitated discussions with colleagues across the human service industry on up to date trending topics.
Presentations from industry experts
Networking and sharing of best practices

For more information on attending the HR roundtable contact Rebecca Coolong at rcoolong@humanserviceforum.org
Thank you to our Annual Sponsors

Healthy Eating for Successful Aging
2025-03-04 10:00 - 12:30 (America/New_York)
For adults hoping to improve their nutrition in order to avoid or live well with chronic conditions, this workshop teaches nutrition basics, label reading, and meal planning, and practices cooking basic recipes to overcome barriers to healthy eating for older adults.
Tues., Feb. 11–March 25,
10 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

Living Well With Persistent Pain
2025-03-04 15:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York)
Provides information and practical skills that build self-confidence and help participants assume an active role in managing problems specific to chronic pain, including fatigue, frustration, and poor sleep.
Tues., Feb. 11–March 25,
3–4 p.m.

HSF Signature Breakfast- The Future of Funding
2025-03-05 07:30 - 10:00 (America/New_York) | Mount Holyoke College Willits-Hallowell Center, 50 College Street, South Hadley, MA, United States
Meet with representatives from organizations that fund projects from non-profits. Here what they look for in applications and what their priorities are when choosing where to allocate their resources. A question and answer session follows.
Breakfast included.
$45 HSF Members $65 Not Yet Members

Confirmed Panel Speakers:
Megan Burke- Community Foundation of Western Mass
Ward Caswell- The Beveridge Family Foundation
Megan Moynihan- United Way Pioneer Valley
Kiley O’Meara- The Irene E. & George A. Davis Foundation
Vanessa Pabón-Hernandez- Women’s Fund
Margaret Tantillo- O’Dell Women’s Center

HSF Breakfast Sponsors:

Kyle.K.Sullivan@bbrown.com

HSF Annual Sponsors:

A Matter of Balance: Managing Concerns About Falls
2025-03-05 10:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York)
Teaches practical strategies to reduce the fear of falling and explores medical, behavioral, and environmental risk factors for falls, stressing the importance of developing an exercise plan.
Wed., Feb. 12–April 9,
10 a.m.–12 p.m.

Dine to Donate at Common Table Food & Drink
2025-03-05 16:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York)
Join Bfair on Wednesday, March 5th from 4-9 PM at Common Table in Cheshire, MA to benefit BFAIR’s programs and services for people with developmental disabilities, autism, and acquired brain injury.
Diners will make a positive impact just by visiting Common Table to enjoy a favorite meal or even try a new restaurant!
Common Table has chosen to donate 10% (excluding sales of alcohol) to BFAIR.
Use the ticket link below to make your reservation online through Common Table!
**Please note when you arrive that you are participating in Dine to Donate!
Questions: Katrina Cardillo, Director of Marketing/PR kcardillo@bfair.org
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Living Well With Long Term Health Conditions
2025-03-06 08:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York)
Techniques to improve symptoms of chronic conditions, such as healthy eating, relaxation techniques, communicating, goal-setting, problem solving, and more.

Drop-in Coffee Hours
2025-03-06 08:30 - 10:00 (America/New_York)
For a more informal approach, UWPV is offering Drop-in Coffee Hours, where individuals can meet one-on-one with specialists in board and leadership development. This is an opportunity to ask questions, discuss governance topics, and network with peers in a casual setting.
Drop-in Coffee Hours will be held on:

Thursdays, March 6 & March 20, from 8:30 AM to 10:00 AM at the UWPV Service Center

For more information or questions, contact Alexandra Maggio at amaggio@uwpv.org or 413-693-0212

Supervisory Skills Certificate Series: Winter 2025
2025-03-06 09:00 - 12:30 (America/New_York) | Online via Zoom
HSF’s most popular workshop series is returning for 2025.
Give new supervisors the skills they need to succeed. If you are planning on promoting, or have just promoted someone to a supervisory position help them hit the ground running with this 8 week course. With HSF’s strong team of seasoned presenters covering a wide range of knowledge from different points of view, we cover theory, soft skills, and hard facts. Conversation topics range from harassment law and insurance liability to finding common purpose in a team and how to show faith in those who work for you, and much much more.
Register an individual who is eligible for a certificate, or a space for your agency to send someone different to each session depending on who the topic will benefit most.
This series is presented virtually over Zoom. Series runs 8 consecutive weeks starting Thursday January 23rd 9am-12:30pm all session. Full series is $600 for members, $1200 for nonmembers.

SERIES TOPICS:

Lead with Influence- 1/23/25

Whether they mean to or not, each person exerts influence over others. With this session learn 10 steps a person could take to add intentionality to that and influence people like a leader. Create a sphere of impact that leaves a lasting positing impression on those you work closely with, leading to them influencing others positively as well.
Presented by Will Weche; Willful Change LLC

Employment Law1 1/30/25

Avoid missteps that can lead to expensive and time-consuming litigation. Learn from practicing attorneys on the wording of the law, along with how that wording is actually applied. Covering a wide range of subjects to clear up misconceptions and acknowledging pitfalls, this session is packed with useful information that every organization needs.
Presented by Skoler-Abbott

Leadership Communication 2/6/25

This session looks at the building blocks of communicating clear messages to others. In a core aspect of leadership that is often taken for granted, those who excel at communicating often excel in supervision. Learn to avoid noise and interference, and how to properly process feedback to fine tune your messages for clearer understanding.
Presented by Jeff Tingley; Human Service Forum

Culturally Responsive Supervision 2/13/25

Join us as we take a deep look at the many aspects that make up our identities and how they impact our leadership, our organizations and the people we serve. Improve our skills in having conversations about our differences in a way that encourages learning and growth while building intersectional resilience. We will strengthen our ability to have important dialogues, navigate predictable tensions and avoid pitfalls that lead to disconnection. This session helps supervisors cultivate trusting, creative and connected diverse working relationships.
Presented by Regi Wingo and JAC Patriss; Growing a New Heart

Liability and Benefit 2/20/25

Gain a better understanding of Insurance, and how it affects you, your team and your organizations. Understand what coverage you have, and might need, in a variety of situations from daily operations to special fundraising events. Learn the various forms of benefits available to understand what you have and be able to help explain to your team what their options are.
Presented by Ben Garvey and Val Francis; Hub International

Team Building and Conflict Resolution 2/2 7/25

Through discussions that will include team activities and individual reflection, forge a shared understanding of team-building and the essential skills for conflict resolution and negotiation that facilitate the development of strong, cohesive, effective teams. Make your team stronger than the sum of their parts, drive unity, and be able to address conflict when it does happen.
Presented by Dr. Lucie Lewis and Janine Fondon

Cyber Security 3/6/27

With the threat of cyber attacks continuing to rise, with an increased focus on social engineering, no one can afford to hide their heads in the sand and pretend that everything is ok. With a focus on practical, simple, daily steps that one can take, this session seeks to minimize risk to you, your organization, and your clients.
Presented by Chris Wisneski; Whittlesey

Retention: Rewards and Accountability 3/13/27

People don’t leave jobs; they leave bad supervisors. This session puts a focus on how a supervisor can strengthen and grow those who report to them, creating an environment where employees want to stay. Covering how to multiple the strengths of your team, how to discipline in a way that productive, and how to praise, we will learn how to create a work environment centered on retention.
Presented by Diana Brooks; Diana Brooks Associates
Supervisory Skills Series Sponsor:

HSF Annual Sponsors:

Cyber Security- Supervisory Skills Certificate Series: Winter 2025- Choose Your Training
2025-03-06 09:00 - 12:30 (America/New_York) | Online via Zoom
March 3rd 9am- 12:30pm
Presented over Zoom
HSF’s most popular workshop series is returning for 2025.
Give new supervisors the skills they need to succeed. If you are planning on promoting, or have just promoted someone to a supervisory position help them hit the ground running with this 8 week course. With HSF’s strong team of seasoned presenters covering a wide range of knowledge from different points of view, we cover theory, soft skills, and hard facts. Conversation topics range from harassment law and insurance liability to finding common purpose in a team and how to show faith in those who work for you, and much much more.
Cyber Security
With the threat of cyber attacks continuing to rise, with an increased focus on social engineering, no one can afford to hide their heads in the sand and pretend that everything is ok. With a focus on practical, simple, daily steps that one can take, this session seeks to minimize risk to you, your organization, and your clients.
Presented by Chris Wisneski; Whittlesey

OTHER TOPICS IN SERIES:

Retention: Rewards and Accountability 3/13/27

People don’t leave jobs; they leave bad supervisors. This session puts a focus on how a supervisor can strengthen and grow those who report to them, creating an environment where employees want to stay. Covering how to multiple the strengths of your team, how to discipline in a way that productive, and how to praise, we will learn how to create a work environment centered on retention.
Presented by Diana Brooks; Diana Brooks Associates
Supervisory Skills Series Sponsor:

HSF Annual Sponsors:

Spanish Diabetes Self Management
2025-03-06 10:30 - 12:00 (America/New_York)
For adults with pre-diabetes or diabetes or their caregivers, this workshop teaches the basics of balancing medication, diet and exercise, techniques to deal with hyper/hypoglycemia and meal planning, stress reduction, and more.
Thurs., Feb. 20–March 27,
10:30 a.m.–12 p.m.

Savvy Seniors
2025-03-06 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
On Thursday, March 6, Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity (GSHFH) will introduce its newest series “Savvy Seniors,” which is designed to empower seniors with the knowledge and tools to navigate technology and financial matters with confidence. Each session will tackle a different topic to help protect against scams and fraud, ensuring our seniors stay informed, secure, and in control.
“Savvy Seniors” will be held at the West Springfield Public Library (200 Park St) at 2pm. Light refreshments will be served. There is no cost to attend, but participants are required to sign up. To register, visit bit.ly/4jSXCIH.
“This is geared only for the senior population or to help parents and grandparents,” said Olga Callirgos, GSHFH Homeowner Programs coordinator. “They are our most vulnerable population and not always up-to-date with technology or aware of the scams out there.”
Classes will be taught by Sue Zielenski, who manages the day-to-day operations at the Bank of America Holyoke Lincoln Financial Center. Spanish speakers are welcome to come and a Spanish-speaking representative will be in attendance to help with language barriers.
GSHFH is dedicated to strengthening communities by empowering low-income families to change their lives and the lives of future generations through homeownership and home preservation opportunities. Since 1987, Greater Springfield Habitat has built or repaired 129 homes in Hampden County.

For more information, contact Olga Callirgos, Homeowner Programs coordinator, at callirgos@habitatspringfield.org or (413) 739-5503 x1003.
